Inhaler.



No. 639,808. Patented Dec.. 26, |899. E. E GARDNER 8f. J. G. SMITH.

INHALER.

(Application led Hay 4, 1899.)

(No Modal.)

what@ NITED STATESv PATENT Fries.

ELMER E. GARDNER AND JUNIUS GARNETT SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INHALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,808, dated-December 26, 18799.

Application filed May 4,1899. Serial No.'715,524. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELMER E. GARDNER and JUNIUs GARNETT SMITH, citizens'of thef United States, and residents of New York,

borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inhalers, of which the following is a' specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

Our invention relates to improvements in inhalers used for medicating atmospheric air and inhaling the same as a remedy for throat, lung, and catarrhal affections, the object of our inventionl being to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective device of this character that will be automatically operated by the respiration of the patient to permit the free inhalation and 'exhalation of the medicated air and so permitting the same to be used by the patient with equal effect and comfort when either asleep or awake. This object we secure by means of our novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth in detail, and pointed'out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a view of our improved inhaler as in use, and Figs. 2 and 3 represent enlarged detail views of portions of the same in section.

To explain in detail, l represents the receptacle for containing the sponge, cotton, or other absorbent adapted to be saturated with the medicine used, the same, as shown, being filled with an absorbent-cotton, (indicated at 2.) This receptacle 1, which for convenience v of reference we will term the medicine-receptacle, is tted with a removable cap or cover 3 for the purpose of permitting ready access into the same, the said cap, as shown, being provided with an opening 4, through which the external or atmospheric air is drawn at the inhalation of the patient into the receptacle l and through the saturated absorbent contained therein. A flap-valve 5, having its seat against the inner end wall of the cover 3 and being secured at one side thereof, is adapted to be automatically operated to open at the inhalation of the patient and vpermit the external air to enter and pass through the medicine-receptacle and be closed at the exhalation of the patient to cause the exhaled air to pass out through certain outlet-openings, to be hereinafter described.

The receptacle l is provided with two tubular arms or extensions 6 6 at opposite sides thereof, havin g openings com municating with its medicine-containing chamber. Over these arms are iitted the ends of two flexible tubes 7 7, the opposite ends of which latter connect with two short tubular valve containing sections 8 8. These sections 8 8 are preferably formed, as is also the receptacle 1, of hard rubber, each of the same at that end opposite its connection with the exible tubes 7 having attached thereto a nipple 9, the latter being adapted to be placed adjacent to or in the patients nostrils when the inhaler is being used.

The sections 8 8 are each provided at a point between their ends with a lateral opening l0, through which the air exhale'd by the patient is adapted to pass. This opening 10, like the opening 4 in the medicine-receptacle, is closed by a flap-valve 1l, the latter in this instance, however, having its seat at the exterior end of the opening, so as to swing outward instead of inward like the valve 5.

The action of our improved inhaler when in use, in brief, is as follows: The nipples 9 being placed close to or in the patients nostrils, the inspiration of the patient simultaneously causes the valve 5 to open and the valves l1 to close, as indicated by full lines in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby the air will be drawn through the opening 4 into the medicine-receptacle and through the saturated absorbent contained therein and from thence through the tubes 7 into the nostrils of the patient. On the patient exhaling the valve 5 is closed and the valves ll opened, as indicated by dotted lines in said Figs. 2 and 3, to permit the exhaled air to pass out through the openings lO. Such action and arrangement of the valves insure the free passage of the air through the inhaler and the discharge of the exhaled air at a point between the nipples and the medicine-chamber and distant from the latter, whereby other than the passage of pure air through the saturated absorbent is avoided.

In lieu of an absorbent being used as a IOO tacle having an air-inlet opening, an in wardlyopeningr valve therefor, air-exit openings at opposite sides of the receptacle and between the exit-openings and the valve a space for the medicine, tube-sections 8 provided with ontwardlyopening valves, tubes connecting said sections with the exit-openings of said -receptacle and supporting the latter at opposite sides of the same, and means for applying said sections to the nostrils, substantially as set forth.

2. An inhaler, comprising a medicine-receptacle provided With a removable cover having an air-inlet opening, 4a valve secured within the cover for opening and closing said opening, two iexible tubes connecting at one end with said medicine-receptacle and at their op- 1 posite end with two non-flexible tubular sections, said sections being provided with lateral air-discharge openings, valves for open- `ing and closing the latter, and nipples connected with said tubular sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ELMER E. GARDNER. J. GARNETT SMITH.

Vitnesses:

HENRY M. KLINK, CHAs. F. DANE. 

